SOLID OXIDE ELECTROLYSIS TECHNOLOGY FOR ISRU AND LIFE SUPPORTS

The ability of solid oxide electrolytes to selectively separate and co mpress oxygen from oxygen-bearing gases can be used to great advantage in in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and life support applications. The regeneration of oxygen from exhaled carbon dioxide and water can be accomplished using solid oxide electrolysis technology to provide a closed loop for oxygen. Oxygen produced from the Martian atmosphere a nd lunar regolith using this technology can be used for life support a nd propulsion. A description of the experiments and sample results of the electrolysis experiments for disk and tube cells are provided. The paper also presents system concepts for life support and ISRU for var ious space applications.